Spinning Software

October 29, 2009 6:56 AM

I'd like to work on an open-source project, but I have zero (seriously, zero) coding or other technical skills. I do, however, do public relations for a living and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it. Do these kinds of projects need PR/communications strategy help, and, if so, how can I get started?

Size or type of the project is not particularly important - I'd just like to support an open-source effort, and have some additional tech PR experience to put on my resume. If you have any ideas, or better yet, you're working on such a thing - let me know!

posted by downing street memo to computers & internet (7 comments total)

I think it would make sense to find a fairly mature project which is looking for a wider user base, and has the features and stability, but just needs to get the word out. Ardour (multitrack DAW) would be a good example of that. I would say Openoffice, but I think they already have PR support from Sun.
posted by idiopath at 7:06 AM on October 29

Also, if you are willing to branch out from your core skills a bit, just about every open source project needs help writing up documentation and tutorials, and polishing existing documentation and tutorial materials.
posted by idiopath at 7:10 AM on October 29

2nding helping out with documentation and editing.
posted by COD at 7:15 AM on October 29

I could definitely do that. How do people typically get started doing this kind of stuff?
posted by downing street memo at 7:29 AM on October 29

You say you have zero technical skills, but as long as you're not afraid of breaking something by clicking on it, you have the skills to use and write about end-user open source applications and frameworks. You can report bugs, improve bug reports written by others, write and improve help documentation, write press releases & blog entries about new versions and functionality, reach out to schools and universities to increase the user base, and go to conferences to publicize your product.

Why an open source software project and not some other kind of nonprofit? What are your career and personal interests, and what software do you use the most?

The more you know about a field, the more value you'll be able to contribute by publicizing the project to the right audiences. For example, the Miro application and guide are interesting to anyone doing video podcasting, CiviCRM is making inroads among administrators of NGOs, AltLaw is a great resource for poor lawyers, law students, and journalists, and MythTV has a lot of advantages over TiVo but end users haven't heard about it.

Here's a sample wiki devoted to marketing an open source project (specifically the Fedora distribution of Linux).

You get started, in my opinion, by learning about the specific ecology you're entering, and then contacting the project.

1. Learn a little about the sub-field you're interested in. Do some googling, download some applications, test them out, see what seems promising. You may have to learn how to use IRC, if you don't already, since it's a primary mode of communication among open source folk.
2. Look around their website and email the most relevant person to ask how you can help, and include suggestions.

Welcome to the club!
posted by brainwane at 7:39 AM on October 29

Absolutely, yes. Many big open source projects have terrible outbound communications, if you can help with that it could make a big difference. Ubuntu is a great example of an open source project successful, in large part, by a well executed communications strategy. So is Firefox. Pidgin (the IM client) is an example of a great open source product that's languishing in obscurity because they don't promote themselves well. And OpenOffice is an example of good open source with an extensive corporate marketing campaign that seems to not be helping.

Your primary problem is finding an open source project you like, then persuading its owners to accept your help. Often the folks who run open source projects think they can do everything and may not understand the value of your expertise.
posted by Nelson at 8:22 AM on October 29

I could definitely do that. How do people typically get started doing this kind of stuff?

Pick a project you like and just contact the maintainer(s). Tell them you are offering to do their PR. Write a little about yourself. Send to more than one project. I'm sure someone will be able to use your skills.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:28 AM on October 29